JP2017110178A - Ink for printing on foamy product, use expiration managing method for said ink, ink cartridge for said ink, inkjet printer using said ink, coffee server with said inkjet printer, coffee beverage reservation system, and image print service system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an edible ink for printing a design on a foamy product on the top surface of a beverage or the like using an inkjet printer, which is not toxic, and can print design not in a vividly poisonous color but in a mild color tone and with a high precision.SOLUTION: An edible ink for printing a prescribed design by an inkjet printer on a foamy product formed on the surface of a beverage such as a cafe latte or a beer filled in a container contains an edible natural colorant and has a viscosity of 5.6 to 12 mPa-s.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

    The present invention relates to an ink for printing on foam, a method for managing the expiration date of the ink, an ink cartridge for the ink, an ink jet printer using the ink, a coffee server with the ink jet printer, a coffee beverage reservation system, and an image print service. The present invention relates to a system, and more particularly, to a system for printing on the surface of a foam or the like (foam) on the upper surface of a beverage or the like.

    One type of coffee drink is Caffe Latte, which is steam milk (milked with steam) on the top of a coffee drink that has been brewed in a container such as a cup. Since the foam of steam milk is white, art (latte art), which draws coffee liquid from the spout of the pitcher into the foam and draws designs such as letters and patterns, has gained popularity in recent years. There are also varistors to perform.

    However, with conventional latte art, people draw a design with the pitcher by hand on the top of the coffee foam filled in the container, so it takes time to finish drawing in one latte, so it can meet many demands. Absent. Moreover, since it is a manual work, drawing accuracy is naturally limited, and the design has a relatively simple shape such as a heart mark, star shape, flower outline, geometric pattern, or cloud pattern.

    On the other hand, the latte art which prints a design using the inkjet printer to the latte brewed by the container with the coffee server is proposed (patent documents 1 and 2). Latte art using an ink jet printer has a feature that, unlike manual latte art, an arbitrary image data can be selected and a design (image) can be printed in a short time without being limited in accuracy.

Special table 2010-508562 Special table 2014-502751 gazette

    However, since conventional latte art inkjet printers print on a latte, which is a drink, the ink used must be edible ink, but conventionally used edible ink is synthetic ink containing artificial colorants It is. The edible synthetic ink has the same viscosity as that of a non-edible ink traditionally used in an ink jet printer, for example, 2.9 to 5.5 mPa · s (millipascal centipoise) (patent) Reference 1). Therefore, there were the following problems.

    First, tar dyes are often used in synthetic inks, but tar dyes have been pointed out to have carcinogenic and other toxic properties, so latte-artificated lattes are healthy if you drink them. Are worried about being harmed and tend to be shunned.

    Also, because the synthetic ink is highly saturated, the color of the design printed on the drink latte looks too vivid and poisonous, so the orderer is less willing or willing to drink the latte. I feel a feeling. Patent Document 1 describes the use of natural colorants such as caramel as suitable edible pigments in order to avoid the toxicity and excessive color of synthetic colorants.

    In addition, since the edible synthetic ink used in the past has a relatively low viscosity, the ink ejected from the nozzles of the inkjet printer flows without being fixed to the surface of the foam due to the influence of the surface tension of the foam of the steam milk. Tend. As a result, the printed image oozes on the surface of the latte and gradually loses its sharpness. Therefore, for example, even if a facial photo design was printed, it would be blurred, making it impossible to produce a latte art that would satisfy the orderer.

    Inkjet printers supply ink to the print head as a means of supplying ink to the ink bottle, and supply the ink from the ink bottle to the print head via a tube (ink bottle method). However, there is an apparatus (ink cartridge system) that supplies ink directly from the ink cartridge to the print head.

    The ink bottle method has an advantage that the printing cost is low because the ink bottle can be used repeatedly without using a dedicated ink cartridge which is a consumable item. However, if the ink is edible ink, the edible ink is exposed to air when it is poured into the ink bottle. There is a risk of adversely affecting the hygiene of the printed matter. Therefore, the use period (life) of the edible ink in the case of the ink bottle method is about 3 to 4 months.

    In the ink cartridge system, since the ink is sealed, when the ink is edible ink (the ink cartridge for edible ink is unknown at the time of filing this application), there is almost no contamination due to air contact, and the edible ink. Since the quality of the edible ink is stable, the life of the edible ink is considered to extend to 6 months or more. However, when the edible ink contains a natural pigment, it is unavoidable that the quality is deteriorated over the course of use.

    In general, in order to prevent overuse of the expiration date, the operator of the printer records the date of loading the ink cartridge into the printer and keeps it on a note paper etc. Monitor whether the number of days has approached the expiration date. Therefore, it is possible to overlook the expiration date. Therefore, in a printer that prints on food and drink using an ink cartridge that encloses an ink containing an edible natural pigment, the expiration date of the ink is exceeded. It is required to reliably prevent this.

    The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. That is, an object (first object) of the present invention is an ink for printing a design on the surface of a foam on the upper surface of a beverage or the like using an ink jet printer, and is a non-toxic, vivid and toxic color. In addition, the object is to provide an edible ink capable of printing a design with a gentle color with high accuracy.

    Another object (second object) of the present invention is an ink expiry date management method capable of automatically managing the expiry date of the edible ink in an ink jet printer that prints a design on the surface of foam on the upper surface of a beverage or the like. Is to provide.

    Still another object (third object) of the present invention is to provide an ink cartridge suitable for using the ink expiration date management method.

    Still another object (fourth object) of the present invention is an inkjet capable of clearly printing latte art having a soft color, not a vivid and toxic color, on the surface of a foam on the upper surface of a beverage or the like. To provide a printer.

    Still another object (fifth object) of the present invention is consistently from the brewing of latte to the vivid printing (latate) of the design having a soft color on the surface of the foam on the top of the brewed latte. An object of the present invention is to provide a coffee server with an inkjet printer that can be used.

    Still another object (sixth object) of the present invention is to provide a coffee beverage reservation system capable of reserving a store in a store for the occurrence of a latte in which an image selected by a customer is clearly printed on the surface of a bubble. is there.

    Still another object (seventh object) of the present invention is to provide an image print service system in which an image desired to be printed is sent to a store from a portable terminal such as a smartphone that has been spread in recent years, and a product on which the image is printed can be received. It is to provide.

    The edible ink according to the present invention that achieves the first object is for printing a predetermined design by an inkjet printer on a foam produced on the surface of a beverage such as latte or beer filled in a container. An edible ink characterized by containing an edible natural pigment and having a viscosity of 5.6 to 12 mPa · s.

    Examples of edible natural pigments include gardenia red pigment, red beetle red pigment, safflower yellow pigment, gardenia blue pigment, and the like. The surface tension of the edible ink is preferably 28.0 to 34.0 mN / m. Furthermore, the pH of the edible ink is preferably in the range of 6.9 to 7.7.

    One of the ink expiration date management methods according to the present invention for achieving the second object is to start counting elapsed days when the ink cartridge filled with the edible ink is mounted on an ink jet printer, and the counted progress It is basically determined whether or not the number of days has approached the expiration date (expiration date of the usable period) of the edible ink, and when it is determined that the number has approached, the fact is notified.

    A method for specifically realizing the ink expiration date management method is to provide a detector for detecting the mounting of an ink cartridge in an ink jet printer, and based on a detection signal from the detector, an arithmetic control unit (CPU) can be used for the ink jet printer. The date of installation is read from the calendar, and the expiration date (usable period) set for edible ink is read from the memory, and the elapsed days counted by the elapsed day counting means and the edible ink usable period are determined. Comparing by means, and notifying means based on a signal output when the determining means determines that the former has approached the latter within a predetermined value.

    A printer using this ink expiration date management method prints a predetermined design on a beverage or the like filled with a container and having foam on the upper surface, using an ink cartridge in which edible ink containing a natural pigment is enclosed. In an inkjet printer, (a) means for detecting when an ink cartridge is installed in the printer and automatically recording the installation date (or installation date); and (b) the installation date (or installation). Means for measuring the number of days (and elapsed time) from (date and time), and (c) means for preliminarily storing the expiration date (or life) of edible ink filled in the ink cartridge attached to the printer (D) the elapsed days measured for the ink cartridge installed in the printer are compared with the expiration date (or lifetime) stored for the ink cartridge. The means for determining whether the expiration date (or lifetime) is approaching, and (e) the expiration date (or lifetime) is approaching when the means for determining determines that the expiration date (or lifetime) is approaching And a means for notifying that the user is doing.

Another one of the ink expiration date management methods according to the present invention that achieves the second object is to read the expiration date of the edible ink from the recording of the ink cartridge by the reading means, and to determine the read expiration date by the determination means. When it is determined that the current day has approached within the predetermined value of the expiration date, the notification means notifies the current date.
(A) A first method for realizing this ink expiration date management method is to print a barcode indicating the expiration date of edible ink on an ink cartridge, and provide a barcode reader on an ink cartridge mounting portion of an ink jet printer. When the cartridge is installed in the ink cartridge mounting section, the barcode of the ink cartridge is read, the read expiration date is compared with the calendar of the inkjet printer by the determination means, and the current day is determined to be within the predetermined value of the expiration date. Informing by the notifying means based on the signal output when the means determines.
(B) The second method for realizing the above ink expiration date management method is to paste an IC chip or RFID tag for transmitting a signal indicating the expiration date of edible ink to the ink cartridge, and to attach the ink cartridge to the inkjet printer. Equipped with an ultra-small communication device that communicates with the IC chip or RFID tag in contact, non-contact or wirelessly, and when the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink cartridge mounting part of the inkjet printer, it can receive from the IC chip or the RFID tag. The expiration date of the edible ink is compared with the calendar of the inkjet printer by the determination means, and the notification means notifies the user based on a signal output when the determination means determines that the current day is within the predetermined value of the expiration date. .

    One form of the ink cartridge according to the present invention that achieves the third object is that a label printed with a bar code indicating the expiration date (life) of ink filled in the ink cartridge is attached to a predetermined position on the outer surface of the cartridge body. It is characterized by that. An ink jet printer using the ink cartridge is provided with a barcode reader that reads the barcode of the ink cartridge attached to the ink cartridge attachment portion.

    Another form of the ink cartridge according to the present invention that achieves the third object is that an IC chip or RFID tag for transmitting information indicating the expiration date of edible ink is attached to a predetermined position on the outer surface of the cartridge body. Features. An ink jet printer using the ink cartridge includes a receiver that receives information from an IC chip of the ink cartridge in a contact or non-contact manner, or a receiver that wirelessly communicates with an RFID tag of the ink cartridge.

    In order to achieve the fourth object, a printer according to the present invention prints a design by ejecting edible ink from a nozzle on the surface of a foam such as latte steam milk filled in a container based on image data. An inkjet printer that performs latte art or the like, comprising: a fixed mounting table on which the container can be exchangeably mounted; and the nozzle that is moved in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction with respect to the mounting table. And the edible ink ejected from the nozzle contains an edible natural pigment having a viscosity of 5.6-12. In the case of this ink jet printer, after a container poured with latte etc. is placed on a mounting table of the ink jet printer in a coffee server independent of the ink jet printer, printing of the printer is started.

    A printer according to another aspect of the present invention is an inkjet printer for printing a predetermined design with edible ink on foam produced on a surface of a latte or beer filled in a container, A mounting table on which the container is mounted, a print head provided at a position higher than the container mounted on the mounting table, and at least one of the mounting table and the print head is a printing position and a non-printing position with respect to the container by the printing head A moving mechanism that moves the print head relative to the print head, an ink supply unit that supplies edible ink to the print head, a design data storage unit that stores design data printed by the print head, and a control device described later. An input unit for selecting a design stored in the design data storage unit and inputting a print start command. An ink cartridge containing an edible dye containing edible ink containing edible dye and having a viscosity of 5.6 to 12 mPa · s is used. The control device receives a signal for selecting a design from the input unit and a print start command. Based on the input of the signal, the moving mechanism is controlled, and the selected design for the foam generated in the container placed on the mounting table is edible using the edible ink of the ink cartridge. It prints with a printing head, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

    The design data storage unit (a) stores image data captured from a connected digital camera, (b) stores image data read from a UBS memory, (c) an electric communication line from a smart phone, etc. (D) Any one of storing image data transmitted via the Internet and (d) storing image data downloaded via the Internet. When the design data storage unit is (C) or (D), the inkjet printer is provided with a communication device for receiving image data from a smartphone or a server.

    In order to achieve the fifth object, a coffee server with an ink jet printer according to the present invention brews a latte from a cup or other container and combines the ink jet printer with a coffee server that produces foam of steam milk on the top surface of the latte. The coffee server has a mounting table on which the container is placed, and the coffee server feeds the latte to the container placed on the mounting table when the mounting table is in a predetermined position. A print head provided at a position higher than the container mounted on the mounting table; an ink supply unit that supplies edible ink to the print head; and design data storage that stores design data printed by the print head And the design stored in the design data storage unit via the control device described later, And an ink supply unit that contains a natural edible dye and encloses an edible ink having a viscosity of 5.6 to 12 mPa · s. There is a first position at which the mounting table can be placed on and removed from the mounting table, a second position at which the container placed on the mounting table is located below the coffee server outlet, and a mounting position on the mounting table. And a control device for inputting a signal for selecting a design and an ejection start command signal from the input unit. Based on the above, the mounting table moving mechanism is controlled, and the design selected for the foam generated in the container mounted on the mounting table is printed by the print head using the edible ink of the ink cartridge. so And wherein the Rukoto.

    The mounting table moving mechanism moves the mounting table from the first position to the second position based on the input of the start signal, and loads the mounting table based on the brewing end signal that is output when the coffee server finishes brewing the latte. A horizontal movement mechanism for moving the mounting table from the second position to the third position and moving the mounting table from the third position to the first position based on a print end signal output when the inkjet printer finishes printing on the container; Features.

    The mounting table moving mechanism has a predetermined gap between the height of the opening surface of the container placed on the mounting table and the lower surface of the print head of the ink jet printer before the mounting table reaches the third position. A vertical movement mechanism for adjusting the height of the mounting table is included.

    With the configuration as described above, after placing an empty container on the mounting table in the first position of the coffee server and then inputting a brewing start command signal, the mounting table is automatically moved and the latte in the second position is moved. From the brewing to the image formation (latate art) on the surface of the foam of the latte steam milk by the ink jet printer in the third position is automatically performed, and the container filled with the latte art coffee beverage is the first position in the initial position. Returned to

A first coffee beverage reservation system capable of achieving the sixth object has a reservation reception device, an inkjet printer to which reservation data is given from the reservation reception device, and an independent coffee server,
The reservation accepting machine has an input unit that selects at least one of a digital camera, an SD card, a USB memory, and a mobile terminal as an image data capture destination, an image data capture unit that captures image data from the selected image data capture destination, A display unit that displays the image using the captured image data, an input unit that provides a confirmation signal when the displayed image is intended, and image data of an image displayed based on the confirmation signal. An image data storage unit for storing, and a transmission unit for transmitting the image data stored in the image data storage unit to the inkjet printer based on the confirmation signal;
The inkjet printer prints the design on the surface of the foam of the latte using the image data transmitted from the reservation reception machine when the container brewed by the coffee server is placed under the print head. It is characterized by being.

    The image data storage unit includes a standard design storage unit in which a standard design is stored in advance, and a personal design storage unit that stores image data captured from the image data capture destination, in accordance with an operation of the image selection unit The image data of the standard design storage unit and the personal design storage unit are displayed on the display unit in a predetermined order, and the image data of the displayed image is transmitted to the inkjet printer when the confirmation signal is input. Preferably it is.

    The reservation accepting machine has a communication function for communicating with a portable terminal. When a communication line is connected to the portable terminal, the reservation receiving machine acquires and stores the identification code of the portable terminal and is reserved. Request to specify the type of coffee drink and the design that you want to print and confirm the specified reservation, and only run or cancel the coffee drink brewing and brewing and printing the design It is desirable to perform a reservation acceptance process that asks for a response to do. When a response to execute is input, reservation data including an identification code, a specified coffee beverage type or a specified coffee beverage type and specified design image data is created, and the reservation data is generated. Preferably, the data is transmitted to the ink jet printer.

The second coffee beverage reservation system capable of achieving the sixth object has a reservation reception machine and a coffee server with an inkjet printer to which reservation data is given from the reservation reception machine,
The reservation accepting machine includes an input unit that selects at least one of a digital camera, an SD card, a USB memory, and a mobile terminal as an image data capture destination, and an image data capture unit that captures image data from the selected image data capture destination. A display unit that displays the image using the captured image data, an input unit that provides a confirmation signal when the displayed image is intended, and image data of an image displayed based on the confirmation signal And an image data storage unit that stores the image data stored in the image data storage unit based on the confirmation signal to a coffee server with an inkjet printer,
The coffee server with an ink jet printer is composed of a coffee server and an ink jet printer installed in close proximity to each other, and the coffee server is placed below the coffee coffee machine outlet by an automatic brewing mechanism based on the input of a start signal from the reservation reception machine. A container moving mechanism for brewing at least the latte to the container placed and then moving the container from below the coffee tub exit to below the print head of the inkjet printer, the inkjet printer uses the print head, The reserved design is printed on the surface of the latte foam in the container based on the reservation data given from the reservation reception machine, and the container is moved to a position where it can be received by a container moving mechanism. And

    The mounting table moving mechanism has a mounting table on which the container is mounted, and moves the mounting table from the first position to the second position based on the input of the start signal, and when the coffee server finishes the latte feeding operation. The mounting table is moved from the second position to the third position based on the output end signal output, and the mounting table is moved from the third position to the first position based on the printing end signal output when the inkjet printer finishes printing on the container. It has a horizontal moving mechanism that moves.

    The mounting table moving mechanism has a predetermined gap between the height of the opening surface of the container placed on the mounting table and the lower surface of the print head of the ink jet printer before the mounting table reaches the third position. A vertical movement mechanism for adjusting the height of the mounting table is included.

    The container moving mechanism has a mounting table on which the container is placed, a first position where the container can be placed on and taken out from the mounting table, and the container placed on the mounting table is located below the coffee server's coffee machine outlet. The second position is moved between a second position and a third position where the container placed on the mounting table is positioned below the print head.

    The first image print service system capable of achieving the seventh object comprises (a) store equipment installed in a store and a mobile terminal used by a customer, and (b) the store equipment includes: A salesclerk operation terminal, a server, and an inkjet printer for food printing, (c) the portable terminal has a function of uploading image data of an image to be printed to the server using a predetermined application (D) The server has a function of storing image data uploaded from the mobile terminal, giving a reception number to the mobile terminal, and notifying the mobile terminal of the reception number, (E) The portable terminal has a function of displaying the receipt number notified from the server, and (f) the clerk operation terminal receives the receipt number from the server when the receipt number is input. (G) The clerk operation terminal receives a print command under the condition that the displayed image is confirmed by the customer. In this case, it has a function of sending the displayed image data to the inkjet printer.

    The second image print service system capable of achieving the seventh object comprises (a) store facilities installed in a plurality of stores and mobile terminals used by customers, and (b) the store facilities. The store equipment of any store has the same configuration, and the clerk operation terminal connected to the Internet line, the WEB server provided on the Internet, and the clerk operation terminal or the WEB server (C) the mobile terminal has a function of uploading image data of an image to be printed to the WEB server, and (d) the WEB server is connected to the mobile terminal. The image data uploaded from is stored, and a receipt number is assigned to the portable terminal, and the receipt number is assigned to the image data. (E) The mobile terminal has a function of displaying the receipt number notified from the WEB server, and (f) the clerk operation terminal has a function of notifying the mobile terminal that has been uploaded. When the receipt number is input, the image data corresponding to the receipt number is read from the WEB server and the image is displayed. (G) The clerk operation terminal or the WEB server It has a function of sending image data of the displayed image to the ink jet printer when a print command is input under the condition that the image displayed on the clerk operation terminal is confirmed by a customer. It is characterized by that.

    According to the present invention (Claim 1), an edible ink for printing a predetermined design by an ink jet printer contains a natural edible pigment, and therefore, unlike a synthetic pigment, it is not toxic and can be used in the foam of a coffee beverage. The color of the design that is formed is meek and makes the viewer feel at ease. In addition, since a natural edible dye having a viscosity of 5.6 to 12 is used, the fixability of the dye to the surface of the foam of the coffee beverage is improved, so that the design formed on the foam, for example, a photograph, does not bleed, Printing with high accuracy is possible.

    According to the present invention (Claims 3, 4, and 6), when the expiration date is approached, the expiration date of the edible ink containing the natural edible pigment in the ink cartridge can be automatically managed. . Therefore, overuse of the expiration date can be prevented.

According to the present invention (Claim 5), when the ink cartridge is attached to the ink jet printer, the user is automatically notified when the expiration date of the edible ink in the ink cartridge approaches. Therefore, overuse of the expiration date can be prevented.
More specifically, simply by loading a predetermined cartridge into the printer, the expiration date of edible ink in the cartridge is automatically read or received, and the approaching expiration date is displayed or notified. Since the cartridge is replaced with a new one based on the display or notification, it is prevented that the expiration date is overrun by leaving the printer in a state where the number of operation of the printer is small and the amount of edible ink used is small. . Therefore, the reliability of the food hygiene management of the food and drink with the design printed on the foam is increased.

    In addition, the expiration date of the cartridge mounted on the printer is automatically managed, and when the expiration date is approaching, that fact is displayed or notified, so that the printer operator is not required to manage it and is inconvenient. It is possible to prevent overuse due to caution. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of food hygiene problems in printed foods and drinks.

    According to the present invention (Claims 7, 8, and 9), a container filled with latte or the like by another apparatus is placed on the mounting table of the printer, and the fine foam on the upper surface of the beverage or the like in the container is A printer capable of printing a clear design can be provided. The inkjet printer according to the present invention is present on the upper surface of a beverage or the like filled in a container from a print head using an ink cartridge containing an edible natural pigment and containing an edible ink having a viscosity of 6 to 12 mPa · s. Since a predetermined design is printed by ejecting edible ink onto the foamed material, it is possible to produce a latte art having a high-accuracy design with non-toxicity and soft colors.

    According to the present invention (Claim 8), since coffee brewing to design printing is consistently performed in the coffee server, the time from order reception to product provision is short, and large demand can be met. At the same time, since the printed design is clear, customers are required to be satisfied.

    According to the present invention (Claim 17), an image selected by the user is transmitted from the portable terminal in the WiFi environment in the store, and a product on which the image is printed at the store, for example, a latte with latte art is received. You can enjoy receiving goods.

    According to the present invention (Claim 18), as long as the store has introduced the same system, the product on which the image selected by the user is printed can be received at the store of the image transmission destination. Since it is also possible to receive at other stores, freedom is added to the product receiving place.

It is a figure which shows the main structures of the inkjet printer which uses the ink management method which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows an example of a structure of the inkjet printer which prints a latte art. It is a figure which shows an example of the mounting base moving mechanism of an inkjet printer. It is a figure which shows an example of the arrangement | positioning state of the ink-jet printer which prints an independent coffee server and latte art. It is a flowchart explaining the effect | action of the mounting base moving mechanism of the inkjet printer of FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of the printing routine of FIG. 5. It is a side view which shows the structure of the mounting base moving mechanism of the coffee server with an inkjet printer. It is a flowchart explaining the effect | action of the coffee server with an inkjet printer. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the reservation system of an in-store reservation system. It is a figure which shows the other example of a structure of the reservation system of an in-store reservation system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the reservation acceptance machine in FIG. 9 and FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the reservation data produced with a reservation reception machine. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the function implementation means of the control part of FIG. 11A. It is a flowchart which shows a part of effect | action of the reservation reception machine which performs reservation reservation outside a shop. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement flow of the reservation reception process of the reservation reception machine in an outside shop reservation. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement flow of the reservation execution process in a reservation outside a shop. It is a table | surface which shows collectively the form of the coffee server which can be implemented in this invention. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the components and arrangement of some coffee servers in FIG. 15. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of an independent type image print service system. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the portable terminal of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the display content of the display part of the portable terminal of FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the display content of the display part of the portable terminal of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the terminal for shop assistant operation of the shop of FIG. It is a flowchart of the download of the application by the server of FIG. It is a flowchart of the image data upload by the server of FIG. 18 is a flowchart of downloading image data from the server of FIG. 17 to the printer. It is a figure which shows an example of the order reception list produced with the server of a shop. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of a shared type image print service system.

    Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Edible ink for foam printing>
What is required of ink for printing on beverage foam etc. is that it must first be edible ink because it is used in beverages, and the color is not so saturated and does not look toxic is there. Next, the ink ejected to the bubbles is well fixed on the surface of the bubbles without flowing on the surface (spherical surface) of the bubbles. As a result, it is possible to print on the bubbles with a clear and highly accurate design.

    As a result of searching for an ink that can meet these requirements, the present inventor has found that an edible ink containing a natural edible pigment and having a viscosity of 5.0 to 12 mPa · s is a compatible ink. It was. These edible natural pigments include gardenia red pigments, gardenia blue pigments, safflower yellow pigments, and red beetle red pigments.

    Tables 1 to 8 show examples of compositions and test values of edible inks containing natural edible dyes by color. In each table, the edible natural pigment has a viscosity of 5.4 to 8.3 mPa · s, a surface tension of 28.0 to 34.0 mN / m, and a pH of 6.9 to 7.7. The test date of the edible inks in Tables 1 to 4 is August 25, 2015, and the test date of the edible inks in Tables 5 to 8 is November 6, 2015.

    As a result of printing any design on the foam on the surface of the latte filled in the container with an ink jet printer using these edible inks, any color ink has a moderately suppressed color, and The fine details of the design could be printed clearly.

    The latte printed with the edible ink containing the natural edible pigment according to the embodiment of the present invention was compared with the latte printed with the same design using the edible ink containing the conventional synthetic pigment. As a result, the latter has a high density (saturation) and gives a toxic impression, while the design is low in clarity, while the former gives a soft impression with a low density (saturation) and a clear design. It was confirmed that the degree was high.

    The reason why the density (saturation) is suppressed and the softness of the design is high and the sharpness of the design is high is that the viscosity of the edible natural pigment is larger than the viscosity of the conventional synthetic ink. This is probably because when the microbubbles land on the surface of the bubble, the microbubbles are firmly fixed without flowing, that is, the blurring of the image that has conventionally occurred does not occur.

    Naturally, edible natural pigments are not toxic, and it is needless to say that there is no aversion to beverages having latte art made with this edible ink. For example, if the latte you ordered, for example, photos of the orderer, lover, family, pets, etc., pictures of your favorite scenery, etc. are clearly printed in gentle colors and provided, Would not.

<Ink cartridge>
When the edible ink containing the edible natural pigment is exposed to air, the longer the contact time, the more likely it is contaminated and the quality is likely to deteriorate. Therefore, this edible ink has an expiration date. The inventor proposes a method for automatically managing the expiration date of an edible ink containing a natural pigment in an ink jet printer.

[First proposal]
The ink jet printer is provided with a detector for detecting that the ink cartridge is mounted. When the detector outputs a mounting detection signal, the elapsed days counting means of the arithmetic control unit (CPU) of the inkjet printer starts counting the elapsed days. Then, the determination means of the calculation control unit compares the counted elapsed days with the expiration date (usable period) set for the edible ink of the ink cartridge stored in the storage unit, and the elapsed days is the expiration date. It is determined whether or not the vehicle has approached within a predetermined value. Based on the output signal when it is determined that the determination means approaches within a predetermined value, the arithmetic control unit gives a drive signal to notification means provided in the ink jet printer, for example, a light emitter, a speaker, a display, etc. Configured to operate the means.

    Thus, when an ink cartridge filled with edible ink is mounted on an inkjet printer, the elapsed days start counting, and when the elapsed days approach the expiration date of the edible ink (the expiration date of the usable period) , To that effect.

    A printer using this first ink management method uses a cartridge filled with edible ink containing a natural edible dye, and prints a predetermined design on a food or drink filled with a container and having bubbles on the upper surface. In the inkjet printer, as shown in FIG. 1, when (a) an ink cartridge is attached to the printer, the attachment is detected, and the attachment date (or attachment date) is automatically recorded; b) means for measuring the number of days elapsed (or elapsed time) from the date of attachment (or date and time of attachment); and (c) the expiration date (or life of the edible ink filled in the ink cartridge attached to the printer). ) In advance, and (d) the elapsed days measured for the ink cartridge installed in the printer for the ink cartridge. Compared to the stored expiration date (or lifetime), the means for determining whether the expiration date (or lifetime) is approaching, and (e) the means for determining the expiration date (or lifetime) approaching And a means for notifying that the expiration date (or lifetime) is approaching.

[Second proposal]
The second proposal of the ink management method according to the present invention for achieving the second object is to read the expiration date of the edible ink recorded in the ink cartridge by the reading means, and to determine the read expiration date of the ink by the determination means. When it is determined that the current day approaches within a predetermined value of the expiration date, as compared with the calendar of the printer, the notification means notifies the user.
(I) A first method for realizing this ink management method is to print a barcode on which an expiration date of edible ink is recorded on an ink cartridge, and provide a barcode reader on an ink cartridge mounting portion of an ink jet printer. When the ink cartridge is installed in the ink cartridge mounting portion, the barcode of the ink cartridge is read, the read expiration date is compared with the calendar of the inkjet printer by the determination device, and the determination means that the current day is within the predetermined value of the expiration date Is notified by the notification means based on a signal output when the determination is made.
(Ii) A second method for realizing the ink management method is to attach an IC chip or an RFID tag for transmitting a signal indicating the expiration date of edible ink to the ink cartridge, and to attach the IC chip of the ink cartridge to the ink jet printer. Alternatively, use of edible ink received from an IC chip or RFID tag when an ink cartridge is mounted on an ink cartridge mounting portion of an inkjet printer with a receiver that communicates wirelessly with or without contact with the RFID tag The time limit is compared with the calendar of the ink jet printer by the determination means, and the notification means notifies the user based on a signal output when it is determined that the current day is within the predetermined value of the expiration date.

    One form of the ink cartridge according to the present invention that achieves the third object is that an IC chip or RFID tag for transmitting information indicating the expiration date of edible ink is attached to a predetermined position on the outer surface of the cartridge body. Features. An ink jet printer using the ink cartridge includes a receiver that receives information from an IC chip of the ink cartridge in a contact or non-contact manner, or a receiver that wirelessly communicates with an RFID tag of the ink cartridge.

<Inkjet printer>
Next, an ink jet printer that prints a predetermined design on a beverage filled with a container and having bubbles on the upper surface using an ink cartridge in which an edible ink containing the natural edible pigment is sealed will be described in detail.

    FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printer PR is a predetermined unit based on inputs from the operation unit 1, display unit 2, storage unit 3, image data input unit 4, printing unit 5, operation unit 1 and image data input unit 4. A container C such as a cup for containing a beverage and a calculation control unit 6 configured by a CPU that performs processing and performs predetermined control on the display unit 2, the storage unit 3, and the printing unit 5, and the container C Is mounted between the position where the printing unit 5 does not perform printing (first position P1) and the position where the printing unit 5 performs printing (second position P2).

    The operation unit 1 and the display unit 2 are provided at a position where operation and visual recognition are possible, such as the front side of the printer PR housing. The operation unit 1 and the display unit 2 are configured by a touch panel and a display panel on a common surface. The printing unit 5 controls the opening and closing of each nozzle of the print head 51 based on the print head 51, the ink supply unit 52 that supplies ink to each nozzle of the print head 51, and the print data supplied from the calculation control unit 6. A print driver 53. The ink supply unit 52 includes an ink cartridge that encloses edible ink containing the natural edible dyes for four colors of black, magenta, cyan, and yellow, and supplies the ink cartridge to each nozzle of the print head 51.

    As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting table moving mechanism 7 includes a horizontal moving mechanism 72 that moves the mounting table 71 on which the container C is placed in the horizontal direction below the print head 51 within a predetermined range, and the mounting table 71 within a predetermined range. And a vertical movement mechanism 73 for moving in the vertical direction. The horizontal movement mechanism 72 can be configured by, for example, a pinion rack, a rail coupled to the rack, a motor that rotates the pinion forward and backward, and the like. The vertical movement mechanism 73 can be configured by, for example, a pantograph, a ball screw that raises and lowers the pantograph, and a motor that rotates the ball screw forward and backward. The vertical moving mechanism 73 is provided with a height adjusting means 74 for securing a predetermined printing gap G between the upper surface of the container placed on the mounting table 71 and the lower surface of the print head 51.

    The height adjusting means 74 detects the height of the container on one side or both sides of the mounting table moving path when the mounting table 71 is in a position where the container can be mounted or removed, that is, in the first position. For example, it has an optical sensor. The sensor emits and receives a beam in a direction perpendicular to the mounting table moving path along a horizontal plane passing through a point lower than the lower surface of the print head 51 by a distance equal to the print gap, for example, about 1 to 2 mm. . When the elevation command is input from the operation unit 1, the height adjustment unit 74 drives the vertical movement mechanism 73 to raise the placement table 71 held at the lowest position and place it on the placement table 71. When the sensor beam is shielded by a certain container, it acts to stop its rise. When a lowering command is input from the operation unit 1, the vertical movement mechanism 73 is driven to lower the mounting table 71 in the raised position to the lowest position.

The operation of the printer PR in use with the above configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS.
In the initial state, the horizontal movement mechanism 72 holds the mounting table 71 in the first position, and the vertical movement mechanism 73 holds the mounting table 71 in the lowered position. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a container C that has been squeezed by a coffee server CS installed in the vicinity is placed on the mounting table 71 of the printer PR, and the operation unit 1 is operated to input a forward command (FIG. 4). 5 is step Y. Hereinafter, the step is represented by S.) When the horizontal movement mechanism 72 is driven, the mounting table 71 is moved horizontally (moved forward) from the first position P1 to the second position P2. (S2). When the predetermined height adjustment position is reached (Y in S3), the forward movement is stopped (S4), and then the height adjustment means 74 starts to control the vertical movement mechanism 73 to increase the height of the mounting table 71. The height is adjusted (S5). That is, the mounting table 71 at the lowest position is raised until the beam of the sensor starts to be blocked by the container mounted on the mounting table 71. The mounting table 71 that has been raised to a predetermined height is subsequently horizontally moved to the second position P1 by the horizontal movement mechanism 72 (when Y in S6 and S7).

    The height adjustment of the mounting table 71 is performed before reaching the second position P2. The container C mounted on the mounting table 71 exists immediately above the second position P2 when the container C reaches the second position P2. This is to prevent a collision with the print head 51 in advance. Further, when the mounting table 71 reaches the second position P <b> 2, a predetermined print gap is secured between the surface of the foam present on the opening surface of the container C and the lower surface of the print head 51.

    When it is detected that the mounting table 71 has reached the second position P2 (the presence position of the mounting table 7 can be detected from the number of positive or negative pulses given to the motor of the horizontal movement mechanism 72). A printing routine (R) by the control unit 6 is executed. Details of the printing routine (R) will be described with reference to FIG.

    When the mounting table 71 reaches the second position P2, first, it is monitored whether or not there is a print request from the operation unit 1 (S21). If there is a print request, selection of an image to be printed is requested (S22). ). For example, (a) image data stored in a memory in the printer PR, (b) image data captured from a digital camera connected to the printer PR, c) Image data captured from a USB memory mounted on the printer PR, or (d) image data received from a smartphone or a form terminal can be used. Each of these image data is displayed on the display unit 2 according to the types (a) to (d) and further in accordance with the storage order so that the image can be easily selected. . There are no restrictions on the type of image, and it may be text, symbols, patterns, paintings, or photographs.

    Following the print request from the operation unit 1 (S21), the images to be selected are displayed in a predetermined order on the display unit 2 (S22), and the selection is requested (S23 to S26). Although the order is not limited, in the example shown in FIG. 5, a question as to whether or not to select an image stored in the memory first is displayed on the display unit 2 (S23). If an affirmative (Y) is input in S23, the index of the image stored in the memory is displayed as an example to facilitate selection (S28). When any one is selected (Y in S29), the data of the selected image, that is, the image to be printed is stored in the buffer memory of the printing unit 5 (S213). The selected image is also displayed on the display unit 2 for operator or customer confirmation (S214).

    If negative (N) is input in S23, it is asked whether image data is to be taken in from the digital camera (S24). When affirmative is input in S24, the arithmetic control unit 6 reads image data from the digital camera connected to the printer PR (S210) and stores it in the buffer memory of the printing unit 5 (S213). If negative (N) is input in S24, then it is asked whether image data is to be taken in from the USB memory (S25). When affirmative is input in S25, the arithmetic control unit 6 reads image data from the USB memory mounted in the USB memory slot of the printer PR (S211), and stores it in the buffer memory of the printing unit 5 (S213). If negative (N) is input in S25, then it is asked whether image data is to be taken in from the smartphone (S26). If affirmative is input in S26, image data is read from the connected smart phone (S212) and stored in the buffer memory of the printing unit 5 (S213).

    If negative (N) is input in step S26, whether or not to cancel the latte art print request is displayed on the display unit 2 (S27). If the operation unit 1 is operated and canceled within a certain period of time (Y in S27), the process of the printing routine (R) ends. If not canceled within a certain time (when N in S27), the process proceeds to S21.

    When the image data read in steps S210, S211, and S212 is stored in the buffer memory of the printing unit 5 (S213), the image is displayed on the display unit 2 for operator or customer confirmation (S214). .

    When the displayed image is confirmed within a predetermined time from the time when the image is displayed on the display unit 2 and a confirmation signal is input from the operation unit 1 (Y in S215), the printing unit 5 uses the buffer memory. The design is printed on the foam of the beverage filled in the container C by the print head 51 moved in the main scanning direction using the image data stored in. Since printing is performed using an ink cartridge in which an edible ink containing the natural edible pigment is encapsulated, as described above, a design having a clear, high-precision, calm color faithful to the original image is printed on the foam. (S216).

    If no confirmation signal is input within a predetermined time from when the image is displayed on the display unit 2 (N in S215, N in S217), and the operation unit 1 is canceled to cancel printing The process proceeds to step S8.

    After printing the design for the beverage foam in step S216, the calculation control unit 6 waits for an input of a backward request from the operation unit 1 (S8), and when the backward request is input, it is loaded by the horizontal movement mechanism 72. The mounting table 71 is returned from the second position to the first position (S9, S10, S11). Therefore, the container C containing the latte-art coffee beverage can be received from the mounting table 71.

<Coffee server with printer>
FIG. 7 illustrates a coffee server NCS according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this coffee server NCS, the same coffee server CS as in the prior art and the printer PR according to the present invention are juxtaposed side by side in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction. And a mounting table moving mechanism 7A that moves the printing position in the juxtaposition direction.

    The mounting table moving mechanism 7A has substantially the same configuration as the mounting table moving mechanism 7 in the ink jet printer PR according to the present invention, and a horizontal moving mechanism that moves the mounting table 71 on which the container C is mounted in a horizontal direction within a predetermined range. 72 and a vertical movement mechanism 73 that moves the mounting table 71 in a vertical direction within a predetermined range. The vertical movement mechanism 73 uses the upper surface of the container C placed on the mounting table 71 as the lower surface of the print head 51. A height adjusting means 74 for securing a predetermined printing gap is added between the two. However, the mounting position on which the container C is placed is separated from both the brewing position and the printing position of the coffee server CS, the first position where the container C can be placed and removed, and the brewing position (first position) of the coffee server CS. 2) and the printing position (third position) of the printer PR, which is different from the mounting table moving mechanism 7 in the inkjet printer PR.

    Further, the height adjusting means 74 determines the height of the mounting table on which the container C is placed on the vertical moving mechanism 73 until the mounting table passes the first position P1 and the second position P2 by the horizontal moving mechanism 72. The control to adjust to the height for securing is not performed. Then, after the mounting table passes the second position P2 and before reaching the third position P3, the height adjusting unit 74 drives the vertical movement mechanism 73 to set the height of the mounting table to secure the printing gap. Raise to height.

    In the preferred embodiment, although not shown, the operation part of the coffee server CS has a button for selecting a type of coffee drink, for example, a latte and a regular, and a latte art is selected when a latte is selected. Buttons that are sometimes operated are provided. In other words, when latte art is applied, a latte art button and a latte art button are pressed.

The operation of the coffee server NCS will be described with reference to FIG. 8 when the latte button is pressed.
In the initial state, the horizontal movement mechanism 72 holds the mounting table 71 at the first position P1, and the vertical movement mechanism 73 holds the mounting table 71 at the lowered position. When the operation unit 1 is operated and a latte is requested (Y in S31), the mounting table 1 on which the container C is placed is first moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2 by the horizontal movement mechanism 72. (S32). Next, the coffee server CS brews the latte in the container C by a known brewing technique (S33). Subsequently, it is monitored whether or not a latte art is requested within a predetermined time from the end of brewing (S34). When the latte art is not requested within a predetermined time (N in S34), the mounting table 1 on which the container C is placed is returned from the second position P2 to the first position 1 by the horizontal movement mechanism 72. Therefore, the customer or the operator can receive the container C filled with the latte from the mounting table 1.

    When the latte art is requested in step S34 (Y in S34), the mounting table 1 on which the container C filled with the latte is placed is moved from the second position P2 to the third position P3 by the horizontal movement mechanism 72. (S36). When the mounting table 1 reaches a predetermined position, that is, the height adjustment position (Y in S37), the movement is stopped (S38), and the height adjustment means 74 continues to move to the vertical movement mechanism 73. To adjust the height of the mounting table 71 (S39). When the height adjustment is finished, the mounting table 71 raised to a predetermined height is again horizontally moved to the third position P3 by the horizontal movement mechanism 72 (S310, S311). When the mounting table 71 reaches the third position P3, the printing routine (R) is executed.

    This printing routine (R) is the same as the printing routine (R) in FIG. 5, and the details thereof are the same as those shown in FIG. Therefore, the overlapping description is omitted here.

<Coffee drink reservation system>
A reservation system for accepting reservations for coffee drinks can be added to the coffee server NCS with an inkjet printer. This reservation reception can be performed in an in-store reservation method for accepting reservation applications from customers who have visited the store, and in an in-store reservation method for accepting reservation applications from a mobile terminal such as a smart phone of a customer at a remote location. It is also possible to adopt both an in-store reservation method and an out-store reservation method with a single coffee server NCS with an inkjet printer.

[In-store reservation system reservation system]
Next, an in-store reservation type reservation system will be described. When the reservation system is introduced, a reservation reception machine is installed in the store.

    When the ink jet printer PR is independent of the coffee server CS as in the example shown in FIG. 4, the reservation accepting device RS is electrically connected to the ink jet printer PR as illustrated in FIG. Reservation data created as described later in the RS is given to the ink jet printer PR. The reservation data may also be given to the coffee server CS.

    In the case of a coffee server NCS with an ink jet printer in which the ink jet printer PR and the coffee server CS are combined as in the example shown in FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. Reservation data that is electrically connected to both the coffee server CS and the reservation accepting machine RS as described later is provided to only the coffee server CS or both the coffee server CS and the ink jet printer PR.

    Below, the structural example and effect | action example of the reservation reception machine RS connected to the coffee server NCS with an inkjet printer are demonstrated, referring drawings of FIG. 11A-FIG. 11C.

    As illustrated in FIG. 11A, the reservation accepting machine RS used in the in-store reservation method performs an input unit 81 for instructing reservation data creation by the control unit 82 and transmission of reservation data by the transmission unit 86, and control of each unit. In order to confirm the control unit 82, the image data capturing unit 83 that captures image data from the outside, and the image of the captured image data, or the image in the reservation data to be transmitted, It has a display unit 84 for displaying images, and a storage unit 85 for storing image data and reservation data for designs printed by the inkjet printer PR. The image data capturing unit 83 captures image data from a digital camera a, an SD card b, a USB memory c, or a DVD reader as an image data recording medium that is an image data capturing destination by a known technique.

    As an example, the storage unit 85 includes a buffer memory 85a, a standard design storage unit 85b, a personal design storage unit 85c, and a reservation data storage unit 85c. The buffer memory 85a temporarily stores image data taken from the image data recording media a to c. The standard design storage unit 85a stores in advance data of a plurality of images that most customers prefer as print contents as standard designs. The personal design storage unit 85b stores image data of an image that has been acquired from the image data recording media a to c connected to the image data acquisition unit 83 and has been confirmed by the customer. The reservation data storage unit 85c stores reservation data representing the reservation details determined for each customer.

    As illustrated in FIG. 11B, the reservation data D includes, for example, a customer reservation number D1 input from the input unit 81, a reserved product provision date (departure date) D2, a reserved product type D3, It consists of each data of the memory address D4 of the standard design or personal design designated by the customer. Based on the image data storage address D4, it is possible to call predetermined image data to be printed from the standard design storage unit 85a or the personal design storage unit 85b.

    As shown in FIG. 11C, the control unit 82 functions as a reservation data creating unit 82a, an image data capturing unit control unit 82b, a display unit control unit 82c, a storage unit control unit 82d, a reservation data reading unit 82e, and the like. It has a transmission part control means 82f.

    The reservation reception device RS performs the reservation reception processing and the reservation execution processing as follows with the above configuration.

[Reservation processing]
(A) When a reservation acceptance start command is input from the input unit 81 based on the reservation application of the customer, the reservation number is automatically acquired by the reservation data creating means 82a and is buffered as a part of the reservation data D (reservation number D1) Temporarily registered in the memory 85a.
(Ii) Next, when the customer receives the desired product receipt date and time from the input unit 81, the reservation data creation means 82a temporarily registers it in the buffer memory 85a as part of the reservation data D (product receipt scheduled date and time D2).
(C) Next, the customer selects and inputs the desired product type from among the predetermined product types that can be reserved. That is, for example, regular coffee, espresso, latte, etc. are designated. If the cafe latte is designated, further specify no latte art or with latte art. The designated product type is provisionally registered in the buffer memory 85a as a part of the reservation data D (product type D3) by the reservation data creating means 82a.
(E) If the customer designates the presence of latte art, the customer is asked to select a design to print. In other words, the user inputs whether to print the standard design or personal design.
(O) When selecting the standard design, specify the standard design as the summary data editing target image from the input unit 81, and when selecting the personal design, select the personal design as the summary data editing target image from the input unit 81. specify.

(A1) When a standard design is designated, the standard design is called from the standard design storage unit 85a in a predetermined order and displayed on the display unit 84 to determine whether or not the customer wishes to print the standard design. Ask. Each time the customer requests the next standard design, the next standard design is displayed on the display unit 84 in a predetermined order. When the customer decision is input from the input unit 81, the determined storage address D4 of the image data of the standard design is provisionally registered in the buffer memory 85a as a part (D4) of the reservation data D.
(A2) When all of the above reservation data D (D1 to D4) are temporarily registered in the buffer memory 85a and the reservation data editing is completed, the reservation data D (D1 to D3) and the image of the storage address D4 (standard design) Is displayed on the display unit 84.
(A3) When the customer sees the displayed content and confirms that there is no mistake, when a confirmation signal is input from the input unit 81, the reservation data D (D1 to D4) is reserved as the confirmed reservation content. It is stored in the data storage unit 85c.

(B1) When the customer selects a personal design in the design selection process, the image data recording medium brought by the customer, that is, the digital camera a, the SD card b, the USB memory c, or the DVD, for example, is stored in the image data capturing unit 83. Asks to connect or wear on.
(B2) When the image data recording medium is connected or mounted, the image data capturing unit control means 82b of the control unit 82 reads the image data from the image data recording medium, and the display unit control means 82c displays the image. The information is sequentially displayed on the part 84.
(B3) When a confirmation signal is input from the input unit 81 when the displayed image matches the customer's request, the image data of the confirmed image is provisionally registered in the buffer memory 85a as part of the reserved data D (D4). Is done.
(B4) When the reservation data editing is completed by all provisional registration of the reservation data (D1 to D4), the reservation data D (D1 to D3) and the image of the storage address D4 (individual) as in the case of (a2) Design) is displayed on the display unit 84.
(B5) As in the case of (a3) above, when the customer sees the displayed reservation content and confirms that there is no mistake, when the confirmation signal is input from the input unit 81, the reservation data D is confirmed. The reserved contents are stored in the reservation data storage unit 85c.
The above is the content of the reservation reception process in the in-store reservation method.

[Reservation execution processing]
The reservation execution process of the reservation reception device RS is performed when the reserved customer comes to the store and requests the provision of the reserved product. That is, when the customer or the store clerk inputs the customer's reservation number from the input unit 81 of the reservation reception device RS, the reservation data reading means 82e of the reservation reception device RS stores it from the reservation data storage unit 85c corresponding to the reservation number. The reservation data being read is read and displayed on the display unit 84. When the customer having the reservation number confirms that the displayed content is correct, when the confirmation signal is input from the input unit 81, the reservation data D read from the reservation data storage unit 85c is transmitted to the reservation receiver RS. It is transmitted to the coffee server NCS with an ink jet printer by the section control means 82f.

    When the reservation data D received from the reservation receiver RS does not include the storage address D4 of the image data (that is, when the reservation content is only a coffee drink), the control unit of the coffee server NCS with an inkjet printer The reservation data D is given only to the coffee server CS. On the other hand, when the reservation data D received from the reservation receiver RS includes the storage address D4 of the image data (that is, when the reservation content is coffee drink and latte art), the reservation data D is stored in the coffee server. Give to both CS and inkjet printer PR.

    The coffee server CS dispenses the reserved type of coffee beverage in the container C as described above according to the product type data included in the given reservation data D. Further, the ink jet printer PR prints an image reserved according to the image data included in the given reservation data D on the bubble of the container C.

When the reservation content is only the coffee beverage, the container C placed on the placing table 71 of the coffee server CS is moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2 by the placing table moving mechanism 7, and the coffee server CS. After brewing the reserved type of coffee drink, the process returns to the first position P1 again.
On the other hand, when the reservation contents are coffee drink and latte art, the container C placed on the mounting table 71 is moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2, and the coffee latte reserved by the coffee server CS is stored. After the completion of the operation, the image data is further moved to the third position, and the image data read from the image data storage address D4 included in the reservation data D is used for the bubbles on the upper surface of the latte by the ink jet printer PR. A predetermined design is printed. When the printing is finished, the container C on which the latte art is applied is returned again to the first position P1 by the mounting table moving mechanism 7.

[Reservation system of outside reservation system]
In the reservation system of the out-of-store reservation method, instead of the image data capturing unit 83 in FIG. 11A, the reservation reception device RS in FIG. 10 can be reserved with a mobile terminal so that the customer can make a reservation using the mobile terminal. Is provided with a communication device (not shown) for communication. The reservation acceptance process in the reservation acceptance machine RS equipped with this communication device will be described with reference to FIG.

[Reservation processing]
When the reservation accepting device RS of FIG. 10 is activated, first, it waits for an incoming call from an arbitrary portable terminal (S41). When an incoming call is received (Y in S41), the response control means configured by the control unit 82 calls a sentence pre-registered in the storage unit 85, and the caller's mobile terminal, for example, “Unreserved "1", please press "9" if you have already reserved "or send a letter (S42). Following this, when “1” is pressed (Y in S43), the reservation receiving machine RS performs a reservation receiving process (S44).

    FIG. 13 shows an example of a reservation acceptance process. This will be described below. A reservation number is given to the caller who has pressed “1” (S441). Next, the caller is requested to send the scheduled date and time of the store visit (S442), and then the product type is requested (S443). When the scheduled visit date / time is transmitted, the date / time is stored in the buffer memory. In S444, it waits for whether or not the product type for the product type designation request has been designated. If it is not designated even after a certain period of time has elapsed (Y in S445), the communication line is disconnected (S446) and the reservation is accepted. The process ends. When the product type is designated in step S444, it is identified whether the designated product type is other than latte or latte (S447).

    If the designated product type is other than latte, reservation data D is created from the data obtained in steps S441, S442, and S443, that is, the reservation number D1, the scheduled visit time D2, and the product type D3 ( (S448), the reservation data is stored in the reservation data storage unit 85d of the reservation receiver RS (S449), and the reservation reception process is terminated.

    In step S447, if the designated product type is latte, the caller is asked whether or not he wants latte art (S4410). If latte art is not desired (N in S4410), the process proceeds to S448 and S449, where reservation data is created and stored in the reservation data storage unit 85d, and the reservation acceptance process is terminated. The reservation data D in this case is also composed of data of the reservation number D1, the scheduled visit time D2, and the product type D3, as in the case where the product type is other than latte.

    If latte art is desired in step S4410, it is requested to transmit image data of an image to be printed (S4411). If the image data has not been transmitted within the predetermined time (Y in S4413), the process proceeds to step S47, the communication line is disconnected, and the reservation receiving process is terminated.

    On the other hand, when the image data is transmitted within a predetermined time (Y in S4412), reservation data D is created (S4415), and the reservation data is stored in the reservation data storage unit 85d of the reservation receiver RS. (S4416), and the reservation acceptance process is terminated.

    The reservation data D created when the latte art is desired is the reservation data D when the product type is other than latte and when the latte art is not desired even when the product type is latte, the reservation number D1, The difference is that image data D4 is added in addition to the scheduled visit time D2 and the product type D3.

[Reservation execution processing]
If “1” is not pressed in step S43 in FIG. 12, it waits for “9” to be pressed (S45). When “9” is pressed (Y in S45), the reservation receiving machine RS performs a reservation execution process (S46). However, if “9” is not pressed within a certain time in S45 (Y in S47), the communication line with the mobile terminal that was communicating is disconnected (S48), and the process returns to step S41.

    As shown in FIG. 14, the reservation execution process in step S46 of the reservation receiving machine RS is performed as follows. That is, for example, a voice or a text “Please enter a reservation number” is transmitted to the mobile terminal of the reservation person who visited the store, and the input of the reservation number is requested (S461). If the reservation number is not entered within the predetermined time (N in S461, Y in S462), for example, a voice or text “Reservation could not be confirmed” is transmitted (S464), and the mobile terminal that was communicating with Is disconnected (S465), and the process returns to step S41.

    On the other hand, in the case of Y in S462, the reservation data is called from the reservation data storage unit 85d based on the reservation number (S466), and the reservation data is analyzed. That is, it is checked whether or not latte art-added latte is included as a product type in the reservation data (S467).

    When the latte art-added latte is not included in the reservation data (N in S467), the reservation data is transmitted only to the coffee server CS by the transmission unit control means 82f of the reservation reception device RS. And, for example, “I'm brewing the coffee I ordered now.” Wait for a while "or text is transmitted (S464), and the reservation execution process ends.

    If latte art-added latte is included in the reservation data in S467 (when S467 is Y), the reservation data is transmitted to both the coffee server CS and the ink jet printer PR by the transmission unit control means 82f of the reservation receiver RS. To transmit. And, for example, “I'm brewing the coffee I ordered now.” Wait for a while "or text is transmitted (S464), and the reservation execution process ends.

    A possible embodiment of a coffee server capable of latte art printing is summarized in one table as shown in FIG. That is, it can be divided roughly into a store visitor (T1) and a reservation store (T2).

    For the store visitor (T1), one that prints only the standard design (T11), one that prints only the personal design (T12), and one that prints both the standard design and the personal design (T13) are possible. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, these three forms include a stand-alone type (A1, B1) in which the coffee server is independent from the ink jet printer and a combined type (A2, B2) in which the coffee server is connected to the ink jet printer. Is possible. The one that prints both the standard design and the personal design (T13) can be a stand-alone type (A1, B1) and a combined type (A2, B2) as shown in FIG. The illustration is omitted.

    On the other hand, the reservation person (T2) can be further divided into an in-store reservation (T21) and an out-of-store reservation (T22). For in-store reservation (T21), it is possible to print only the standard design (T211), print only the personal design (T212), and print both the standard design and the personal design (T213). FIG. 16 shows a stand-alone type (C1) and a combined type (C2) of one that prints only a personal design (T212). For outside-the-store reservation (T22), it is possible to print only the standard design (T221), print only the personal design (T222), and print both the standard design and the personal design (T223). . FIG. 16 shows a stand-alone type (D1) and a combined type (D2) of the one (T222) for printing only the personal design.

    Although not shown in FIG. 15, as described in the lower part of FIG. 16, a combination of independent types A1 and C1, a combination of independent types B1 and C1, a combination of combined types A2 and C2, and a combined type B2 Combination of C2 is also possible by using the technical matters described above.

<Other embodiments>
Step S1 in FIG. 5 is based on the fact that instead of the operator pressing the advance request switch, the mounting table is provided with weight detection means, for example, a load cell, and that the load cell has detected that a container has been placed on the mounting table. Thus, the forward movement by the horizontal movement mechanism may be automatically activated. In step S8, instead of the operator pressing the backward request switch, the backward movement by the horizontal movement mechanism may be automatically activated based on the completion of the printing process of the printing process routine R.

    If the coffee drink is first brewed into the container by the coffee server CS and then the design is printed on the coffee drink in the container by the ink jet printer PR, the arrangement of the coffee server CS and the ink jet printer PR and the moving direction of the container are It is not limited.

    Although the example which connected the inkjet printer PR to the coffee server CS which produces | generates the coffee drink as a representative of the drink which has foam on the upper surface was demonstrated above, the beer server which pours draft beer which has a similar foam to a mug It can be similarly applied to.

    The printing object of the printer according to the present invention is a beverage or food having foam (bubbles) or the like on the upper surface. Such beverages include, for example, coffee beverages having foam (foam group) on the upper surface such as latte and espresso or alcoholic beverages having foam (foam group) on the upper surface such as draft beer. In addition, examples of foods having foam analogs include grated soup, tofu, steamed steamed rice, rice gel, and soft ice cream.

Subsequently, as yet another embodiment, a system in which a customer uploads image data from a portable terminal to a server and prints an image confirmed by the customer at a store on a product (hereinafter referred to as an image print). The service system will be described.
This image print service system can be of two types depending on where the server is provided. One is an independent type in which a server is provided independently for each store, and the other is a common type in which a WEB server common to each store is provided on the Internet. Hereinafter, both types will be sequentially described.

[Independent type]
As shown in FIG. 17, the independent type image print service system includes a mobile terminal 1000 owned by a customer and store equipment 2000. Although only one portable terminal 1000 is shown in FIG. 17, it goes without saying that the number of portable terminals 1000 equal to the number of customers is used. The store facility 2000 includes a store clerk operation terminal 2100 installed in the store H, a server 2200 having functions of a WEB server, a print server, and a file server, a WiFi access point 2300, and an inkjet printer for food printing 2400 and these are connected to the in-store network.

[Mobile device]
As shown in FIG. 18, the portable terminal 1000 includes a communication unit 1001, a touch panel type input unit 1002, a display unit 1003 provided on the same surface as the input unit 1002, a photographing unit 1004, and a control unit 1005. And a storage unit 1006.

    The communication unit 1001 is capable of wireless communication in a WiFi environment. The portable terminal 1000 can access the server 2200 via the WiFi access point 2300 by the communication unit 1001. There is no need to be connected to the Internet. When connected to the Internet, a customer (mobile terminal 1000) can access the server 2200 via the Internet.

    The storage unit 1006 stores program data and working data, as well as image data of an image captured by the image capturing unit 1004 and / or image data received from outside, in the same manner as a known portable terminal.

    In summary, the mobile terminal 1000 has various functions similar to those of a normal smartphone or tablet, and also accesses an application program (hereinafter referred to as a print order) by accessing the server 2200 via a WiFi access point 2300 of a specific store H. The order application is requested to download, and the downloaded order application is activated, and the image data of the image selected from the images stored in the storage unit 1006 is uploaded to the server 2200.

    The image to be uploaded is preferably an image taken by the mobile terminal 1000 itself, but may be an image received and recorded by the mobile terminal 1000 from another mobile terminal or a transmitter.

    The main functions of the mobile terminal 1000 are an order application download request, uploading of image data to a server 2200 of a specific store by the operation of the downloaded order application, and an upload completion notification to the mobile terminal 1000. Hereinafter, these will be sequentially described.

    One method for making an order application download request is to access a server 2200 at a specific store H. In order to access the server 2200, the URL of the home page of the store H is input from the input unit 1002, and the QR code (registered trademark) described in the advertisement flyer of the store is photographed automatically by the photographing unit 1005. Any of the access methods may be used.

The method for downloading the order application and the method for starting the order application are the same as the known methods, but this will be briefly described.
(1) The store equipment 2000 (the clerk operation terminal 2100) is accessed and the homepage screen is displayed on the display unit 1003 of the mobile terminal 1000.
(2) Tap the letter “APP” on the screen, find the title of the target application from the displayed title list of the application, and tap it.
When this image print service system is applied to printing an image on a latte brewed at a coffee shop, the application title is displayed as, for example, “Latte order”. Tap.
(3) After confirming the application explanation page displayed on the display unit 1003 of the mobile terminal 1000, the display portion of “Install” is tapped.
(4) Thereby, the order application is read from the server 2200, downloaded to the portable terminal 1000, and stored (installed) in the storage unit 1006.

    To start the installed order application, “Open” and [Uninstall] are displayed on the application explanation page after the installation is completed. When “Open” is tapped, the order application is started. Alternatively, when the order application “Cafferate order” is searched from the application list and the order application is tapped, the order application is activated.

    After the order application is activated, the list of images stored in the storage unit 1006 of the mobile terminal 1000 is displayed on the display unit 1003 according to the instructions of the application, and the customer prints the product, for example, latte, at the store. When the desired image is selected and the “Send” display portion is tapped, the image data of that image is sent (uploaded) to the server 2200.

After the order application is downloaded to the mobile terminal 1000, processing from the mobile terminal 1000 to uploading image data to the server 2200 using the order application will be described in further detail.
When the customer (mobile terminal 1000) selects the order application, as shown in FIG. 19 (a), characters representing the contents of the order application such as “Rate latte order” are displayed on the display unit 1003 of the mobile terminal 1000 as an initial screen. (A), a design (b) representing a latte art-attached latte, and a letter meaning activation of the ordering application, for example, “START” or a symbol (c) are displayed surrounded by a frame.

    When “START” or the symbol (c) is tapped, the order application is activated, and the control unit 1005 executes an image selection routine. That is, as shown in FIG. 19B, among the images stored in order in the storage unit 1003, the top image (2) is read out and displayed on the display unit 1003. “Determination” and “next” characters (f) are displayed on the display unit 1003 surrounded by a frame, and it is requested to select whether to select the image or display the next candidate.

    At this stage, when the “determined” frame is tapped, as shown in FIG. 19C, an image (g) obtained by trimming a part other than the print range of the image, that is, the print range and the print request will be displayed. A character (for example, “print”) or a symbol (h) is displayed on the display unit 1003 surrounded by a frame.

    When “Next” is tapped without tapping “OK” in FIG. 19B, the second image stored in the storage unit 1006 is read and displayed on the display unit 1003. Thus, the characters “OK” and “Next” are displayed on the display unit 1003. After that, if “Next” is tapped without tapping “OK”, the subsequent image and the characters “OK” and “Next” are sequentially displayed on the display unit 1003 until the last image. Is done.

    When “print” or a symbol (t) is tapped, the control unit 1005 of the mobile terminal 1000 adds the image data of the trimmed image (g) as the print target image information to the identification number of the mobile terminal 1000, and the communication unit Send (upload) from 1001 to server 2200.

    In FIG. 19, the image is represented by the alphabet letter A for simplification, but here, a face photograph of a person or a pet animal, a landscape photograph, a picture, a figure, or the like is represented.

    When the upload of the image data is completed, the server 2200 that has received the upload attaches a receipt number to the print order, adds the uploaded image data to the receipt number, and stores it in the storage unit of the server 2200. .

    When the server 2200 finishes storing the receipt number and the image data, the server 2200 transmits a transmission completion notice to the portable terminal 1000 that is the upload source of the image data. The mobile terminal 1000 that has received the transmission completion notification text displays the transmission completion notification text on the display unit 1003.

    For example, as shown in FIG. 19 (d), a transmission completion notification sentence has been created in advance, and after “Completed. Please wait in front of the latte machine.” No: 151 ”is added to the configuration. In addition, a character requesting confirmation by the customer of the receipt number, for example, “OK” is displayed. When this “OK” is tapped, the portable terminal 1000 transmits a signal indicating that the receipt number has been confirmed to the server 2200.

    The mobile terminal 1000 displays a transmission completion notification message and outputs a voice such as “Reception number is 151. Please wait in front of the latte machine” from the speaker provided in the mobile terminal 1000, for example. It is desirable to do.

    It is desirable to add one or more subordinate images such as a stamp to the main image such as a face photograph of a person or a pet, a landscape photograph, a picture, or a figure for an image printed on a product at the store H May be. A process in the case of adding a stamp to the main image of FIG. 19 and transmitting it will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, as shown in FIG. 20 (c1), “print” and “stamp” are displayed on the display unit 1003 below the trimmed image (g) in FIG. Wait for a tap. When “print” is tapped, the process proceeds to (d) of FIG. However, when “stamp” is tapped, as shown in (c2) of FIG. 20, the type of stamp is displayed, and one of them is required to be selected.

    When one type of stamp is selected, a plurality of stamps belonging to that type are displayed as shown in (c3) of FIG. When a stamp desired to be added is tapped, as shown in (c4) of FIG. 20, the stamp is displayed over the main image on the display unit 1003. At this time, when “print” (H) is tapped, the image data in which the stamp (v) is added to the main image (G) in FIG. 20 (c 4) is uploaded to the server 2200. After that, as in (d) of FIG. 19, the mobile terminal 1000 receives the transmission completion notification text and displays it on the display unit 1003.

[Store equipment]
A store facility when the image print service system is applied to printing an image as terate art in a latte brewed at a coffee shop will be described. The clerk operation terminal 2000 provided in the store may be a desktop computer, a notebook computer, or a tablet. As shown in FIG. 21, a communication unit 2001, an input unit 2002, a display unit 2003, a control unit 2004, a storage unit 2005. A server 2006 and an inkjet printer 2400 are connected to the control unit 2004 via an input / output unit (not shown).

    The communication unit 2001 is connected to the Internet line, and can communicate with the customer's mobile terminal 1000 in the store through the WiFi environment.

    As shown in FIG. 22, when the customer (mobile terminal 1000) accessing the clerk operation terminal 2100 is requested to download the order application (when Y in S51), the control unit 2004 stores the order application as a server. The data is read from the storage unit 2200 and downloaded to the customer (mobile terminal 1000) (S52).

    As shown in FIG. 23, when the mobile terminal 1000's order application is executed, the server 2200 transmits (uploads) the identification number and image data of the mobile terminal 1000 (Y in S61). Then, the receipt number is recorded in the order acceptance list in the storage unit of the server 2200 (S63). Further, the image data received from the portable terminal 1000 is stored in the storage unit of the server 2200 with the receipt number added thereto (S64). That is, when the image data is uploaded, a reception number is assigned to the customer who owns the portable terminal 1000. The identification number of the portable terminal 1000 is added to this reception number (S65). A reception date and time may be added to the reception number.

    As shown in FIG. 24, when the customer shows the reception number displayed on the portable terminal 1000 to the store clerk and the store clerk inputs the reception number from the input unit 2002 of the store clerk operation terminal 2100 (Y in S71), The control unit 2004 reads the image data corresponding to the receipt number from the server 2006 (S72), and displays the image on the display unit 2003 (S73).

    Instead of the store clerk entering the receipt number and displaying the image corresponding to the receipt number on the display unit 2003, the order read from the server 2200 on the standby screen of the display unit 2003 as illustrated in FIG. The reception list (OL) is displayed, the display contents are shifted until the customer's reception number (for example, 151) is displayed on the screen, and a confirmation mark written at the end of the line of the customer's reception number, for example, “download” When the character “” is tapped, an image corresponding to the receipt number may be displayed on the display unit 2003.

    FIG. 25 shows an example of an order acceptance list (OL). In this order reception list (OL), a reception number, an identification number, and a reception date and time are recorded in order reception order. When displaying the reception date and time on the same line of each reception number, it becomes a clue to determine whether or not the correspondence between the reception number and the customer is correct by inquiring the customer about the reception date and time.

When the clerk shows the image displayed on the display unit 2003 of the clerk operation terminal 2100 to the customer, and the customer confirms that the image is an object to be printed, the clerk presses the execution (ENTER) key of the input unit 2002. When operated (Y in S74), the control unit 2004 transfers the image to the inkjet printer 2400 (S75).
Instead of operating the execution (ENTER) key of the input unit 2002, an OK icon displayed near the image on the display unit 2003 may be tapped.

    As described above, the inkjet printer 2400 may be either a separation type independent of the coffee server or a combination type combined with the coffee server. The ink jet printer 2400 may be a printer that prints on processed foods such as regular cookies.

    The image data transferred to the inkjet printer 2400 is temporarily stored in the storage unit of the inkjet printer 2400. When the container detection unit of the inkjet printer 2400 detects that the container is placed on the container placement table, a known print driver uses the image data temporarily stored in the storage unit to store the inside of the container. Print an image on the top of the latte.

[Common type]
Next, a common type image print service system will be described. In the common type image print service system, as shown in a simplified example in FIG. 26, a plurality of stores H1, H2,... Where a plurality of customer mobile terminals 1000 operate the same image print service system. Among these, mutual communication is possible with the store clerk operation terminal 2100 specified by the URL. Further, a WEB server 2500 is provided on the Internet line 3000, and mutual communication is possible between the clerk operation terminal 2100 of each store H1, H2,... And the WEB server 2500 via the Internet line 3000.

    There is no need for a server or WiFi access point in the store, only the clerk operation terminal 2100 and an inkjet printer (one that can print via the Internet or one that can use the clerk operation terminal 2100 as a print server) 2400 Are connected to the Internet 3000. The image is received via the Internet separately from the store.

    A WiFi access point for Internet connection may be provided separately from the in-store network so that the Internet 3000 can be connected to the WEB server 2500 in the store.

Each mobile terminal 1000 and the store clerk operation terminal 2100 of each store have a client-server relationship, and the store clerk operation terminal 2100 responds to the order application download request from the mobile terminal 1000 with the order application as the request source. Download to mobile device 1000. That is, when the mobile terminal 1000 transmits a request message for requesting download of the order application to the store clerk operation terminal 2100, the store clerk operation terminal 2100 receives the request message, analyzes it, and accepts it in the application program. Process. Then, a response message containing the predetermined order application is transmitted (downloaded) to the portable terminal 1000.
Of course, when the mobile terminal 1000 issues a download request for the order application, the mobile terminal 1000 makes a download request using the URL of the request destination store. However, the downloaded order application is common to all stores.

[Action]
The mobile terminal 1000 that has downloaded the order application uses the order application to select an image that is desired to be printed on the caffe latte produced at the store, and then uploads the image data of the selected image to the WEB server 2500. Make a request. That is, the mobile terminal 1000 accesses the WEB server 2500 via https communication, transmits a request message for requesting upload, and selects in advance on the mobile terminal 1000 based on the reception of an upload permission response message from the WEB server 2500. The image data that has been sent is transmitted (uploaded) to the WEB server 2500. As a result, the customer orders an image print from the store. If the store provides latte, the image will be printed on the caffe latte. It is desirable to add the identification number of the orderer's portable terminal 1000 and the transmission date and time to the transmitted image data.

    The WEB server 2500 to which the image data has been uploaded immediately adds a reception number to the order, adds a reception number, a reception date and time, and an identification number to the image data, and receives the image data, reception number, reception date and time, and identification number. Are stored as order information in a predetermined order in the order received in a predetermined storage area of the storage unit. In this case, the transmission date / time of the orderer is the reception date / time.

    The WEB server 2200 creates an order reception list OL by extracting the reception number, the reception date and time, and the identification number from the order information of each order, as illustrated in FIG. 25, and stores it.

    When the customer who ordered the caffe latte receives the product, the reception number (for example, “151”) displayed on the display unit 1003 by the execution of the order application on the portable terminal 1000 is shown to the store clerk. When the store clerk inputs the receipt number into the store clerk operation terminal 2100, the store clerk operation terminal 2100 accesses the WEB server 2500 and displays the registered order reception list OL on the display unit 2003 of the store clerk operation terminal 2100. . In the order reception list OL, the reception number and the reception date and time are displayed in the order of reception, so that the store clerk displays the reception number of the customer, for example, the character “download” displayed at the end of the line “151” in FIG. When is tapped, an image stored in the WEB server 2500 in association with the receipt number is read and displayed on the display unit 2003 of the clerk operation terminal 2100. When the customer confirms the image, tapping “OK” displayed on the display unit 2003 transfers the image data of the image to the inkjet printer 2400 and prints it.

    The customer who ordered the caffe latte usually receives the caffe latte on which the image is printed at the store where the order was placed (for example, H1 in FIG. 26), but the order application is all stores that operate the same image print service system. (H1, H2,...), And since the clerk operation terminal 2100 of all stores can access the WEB server 2200, it can be received at a store other than the store where the order was placed (for example, H2 in FIG. 26). . After ordering, if you want to drink Kafuerate without taking time, the former will be, and if you want to drink at another store after the time has passed after ordering, it will be the latter.

    If the store where the order is placed (order store) and the store where the order is received (receiving store) are different, for example, at the receiving store, without telling the date partner that the order was placed at the order store, the image preferred by that date partner You can give a surprise to present a printed latte.

    In the common type, customer order data can be stored in the WEB server 2500, so it is possible to statistically grasp how much printing is performed at which store at which time, and at the time of printing, for example, the gender and age group of the customer Customer information can be collected by performing attribute registration and the like.

PR Inkjet printer (printer)
1 Operation unit 2 Display unit 3 Storage unit 4 Image data input unit (camera, USB memory, smart phone)
5 Print Unit 51 Print Head 52 Ink Supply Unit 53 Print Driver 6 Arithmetic Control Unit (CPU)
7 Placement table moving mechanism 71 Placement table 72 Horizontal movement mechanism 73 Vertical movement mechanism 74 Height adjustment means CS Single coffee server NCS Coffee server with printer 8 Reservation acceptance machine

Claims (18)

    An edible ink for printing a predetermined design by an inkjet printer on foam produced on the surface of a beverage such as latte or beer filled in a container, containing an edible natural pigment, An edible ink having a viscosity of 5.6 to 12 mPa · s.     The edible ink according to claim 1, wherein the edible natural pigment is gardenia red pigment, red beech red pigment, safflower yellow pigment, gardenia blue pigment, and the surface tension of the edible ink is 28.0-34. An edible ink, wherein the edible ink has a pH of 6.9 to 7.7.     Inkjet printer is equipped with a detector that detects the mounting of an ink cartridge. Based on the detection signal from the detector, the arithmetic control unit (CPU) reads the date of installation from the calendar of the inkjet printer and contains edible natural pigments. The expiration date (usable period) set for the edible ink having a viscosity of 5.6 to 12 mPa · s is read from the memory, and the elapsed days counted by the elapsed day counting means and the use of the edible ink The use of the edible ink, characterized in that the notification means notifies based on a signal output when the determination means determines that the former has approached the latter within a predetermined value by comparing with a possible period. Deadline management method.     An IC chip or RFID tag for transmitting a signal indicating the expiration date of the edible ink is attached to an ink cartridge enclosing edible ink containing a natural edible dye, and the ink chip IC chip or RFID is attached to an inkjet printer. A reader that communicates with a tag in contact or non-contact or wirelessly, and the edible ink received from the IC chip or RFID tag when the ink cartridge is mounted on an ink cartridge mounting portion of the inkjet printer; The expiration date is compared with the calendar of the inkjet printer by the determination unit, and the notification unit notifies the user based on a signal output when the determination unit determines that the current day is within a predetermined value of the expiration date. Use period of the edible ink Management method.     An IC chip or RFID tag that transmits information indicating the expiration date of edible ink is provided at a predetermined position on the outer surface of the cartridge body, and when the cartridge is mounted on an ink jet printer, it contacts a receiver provided on the ink jet printer. 5. The ink cartridge for use in the edible ink expiration date management method according to claim 4, wherein the information is transmitted in a non-contact manner. In an ink jet printer that prints a predetermined design on a food or drink having a foam on its upper surface, filled in a container, using an ink cartridge enclosing an edible ink containing a natural edible dye,
(A) means for detecting the mounting of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted on the inkjet printer and automatically recording the mounting date (or mounting date and time);
(B) means for measuring the number of days (or elapsed time) from the wearing date (or wearing date);
(C) means for preliminarily storing an expiration date (or life) of edible ink filled in the ink cartridge mounted on the inkjet printer;
(D) The elapsed time measured for the ink cartridge mounted on the ink jet printer is compared with the expiration date (or lifetime) stored for the ink cartridge, and whether or not the expiration date (or lifetime) is approaching. Means for determining whether or not
(E) when the means for determining determines that the expiration date (or life) is approaching, means for notifying that the expiration date (or life) is approaching. Inkjet printer.     An inkjet printer that performs latte art or the like that prints a design by ejecting edible ink from a nozzle based on image data on the surface of a foam of foamed latte or similar thereof filled in a container such as a cup, A fixed mounting table for mounting the container in a replaceable manner, and a print head including the nozzles, which is moved in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction with respect to the mounting table, and is ejected from the nozzle. The edible ink contains an edible natural pigment having a viscosity of 5.6-12. An inkjet printer for printing a predetermined design with edible ink on foam generated on a surface such as latte or beer filled in a container,
A mounting table on which the container is mounted; a print head provided at a position higher than the container mounted on the mounting table; and at least one of the mounting table and the printing head is attached to the container by the printing head. A moving mechanism that moves relative to a printing position and a non-printing position; an ink supply unit that supplies edible ink to the print head; and a design data storage unit that stores design data printed by the print head; An input unit for selecting a design stored in the design data storage unit via the control device described later and inputting a print start command, and the ink supply unit contains a natural edible dye, An ink cartridge in which edible ink having a viscosity of 5.6 to 12 mPa · s is enclosed is used, and the control device selects a design from the input unit. The moving mechanism is controlled based on the input of the print start command signal and the print start command signal, and the selected design for the foam generated in the container placed on the mounting table is edible of the ink cartridge. An ink jet printer, wherein the ink is printed by the print head.     9. The ink jet printer according to claim 8, wherein the design data storage unit stores image data captured from a connected digital camera, stores image data read from a UBS memory, or a telecommunication line from a smart phone or the like. An ink jet printer characterized in that it is one or a plurality of ones that store image data transmitted via the Internet and those that store image data downloaded via the Internet. It is a coffee server with an ink jet printer combined with an ink jet printer and a coffee server that produces steam milk bubbles on the top surface of the latte.
A mounting table for mounting the container;
The coffee server brews a latte to a container placed on the mounting table when the mounting table is in a predetermined position.
The inkjet printer includes a print head provided at a position higher than a container placed on a mounting table, an ink supply unit that supplies edible ink to the print head, and design data printed by the print head. A design data storage unit that stores the design data, and an input unit for selecting a design stored in the design data storage unit via the control device and a print start command.
The ink supply unit uses an ink cartridge containing a edible ink containing a natural edible dye and having a viscosity of 5.6 to 12 mPa · s,
A first position where the placement table can be placed and removed from the placement table; a second position where the container placed on the placement table is positioned below the coffee machine outlet; and the placement table A mounting table moving mechanism for moving the container placed on a third position located below the print head;
The control device controls the mounting table moving mechanism based on a signal for selecting a design from an input unit and an input of a print start command signal, and bubbles generated in a container placed on the mounting table. A coffee server with an inkjet printer, wherein the selected design is printed by the print head using edible ink of the ink cartridge.     The coffee server with an inkjet printer according to claim 10, wherein the mounting table moving mechanism moves the mounting table from the first position to the second position based on the input of the start signal, and the coffee server The loading table is moved from the second position to the third position based on the loading completion signal that is output when the loading operation is finished, and the loading table is moved to the third position based on the printing completion signal that is output when the inkjet printer finishes printing on the container. A coffee server with an ink jet printer, comprising a horizontal movement mechanism that moves from a third position to a first position.     11. The coffee server with an inkjet printer according to claim 10, wherein the mounting table moving mechanism is configured such that the height of the opening surface of the container mounted on the mounting table when the mounting table is in the second position is an inkjet printer. A coffee server with an ink jet printer, comprising: a vertical movement mechanism for adjusting a height of the mounting table so as to ensure a predetermined gap with a lower surface of the print head. A reservation reception machine, an inkjet printer to which reservation data is given from the reservation reception machine, and an independent coffee server;
The reservation accepting device includes an input unit that selects at least one of a digital camera, an SD card, a USB memory, and a portable terminal as an image data capture destination, and an image data capture unit that captures image data from the selected image data capture destination A display unit that displays the image using the captured image data, an input unit that provides a confirmation signal when the displayed image is intended, and an image displayed based on the confirmation signal. An image data storage unit that stores image data; and a transmission unit that transmits image data stored in the image data storage unit to the inkjet printer based on the confirmation signal;
The ink jet printer uses the image data transmitted from the reservation accepting machine to design the surface of the foam of the latte when the container brewed by the coffee server is placed below the print head. A coffee beverage reservation system characterized by being printed.     14. The coffee beverage reservation system according to claim 13, wherein the image data storage unit includes a standard design storage unit in which a standard design is stored in advance, and a personal design storage unit that stores image data captured from the image data capture destination. The image data of the standard design storage unit and the personal design storage unit is displayed on the display unit in a predetermined order according to the operation of the image selection unit, and is displayed when the confirmation signal is input A coffee beverage reservation system, wherein image data of an image is transmitted to the inkjet printer.     14. The coffee beverage reservation system according to claim 13, wherein the reservation receiving machine has a communication function of communicating with a portable terminal, and when the communication line is connected to the portable terminal, the portable terminal Requesting the designation of the type of coffee beverage to be reserved, the design desired to be printed and the confirmation of the designated reservation content, and only the extraction of the coffee beverage or the coffee When a reservation acceptance process is performed to request a response to execute or cancel the beverage brewing and the design printing, and when a response to execute is input, the identification code, the type of coffee beverage specified or specified Reservation data including the type of coffee beverage specified and image data of the specified design is created, and the reservation data is transmitted to the inkjet printer. Coffee beverages reservation system, characterized in that. A reservation reception machine, and a coffee server with an inkjet printer to which reservation data is given from the reservation reception machine,
The reservation accepting device includes an input unit that selects at least one of a digital camera, an SD card, a USB memory, and a portable terminal as an image data capture destination, and an image data capture unit that captures image data from the selected image data capture destination A display unit that displays the image using the captured image data, an input unit that provides a confirmation signal when the displayed image is intended, and an image displayed based on the confirmation signal. An image data storage unit for storing image data, and a transmission unit for transmitting the image data stored in the image data storage unit to the coffee server with an inkjet printer based on a confirmation signal,
The coffee server with an ink jet printer is composed of a coffee server and an ink jet printer installed close to each other,
The coffee server brews at least a latte into a container placed below the coffee mash outlet by an automatic brewing mechanism based on an input of a start start signal from the reservation accepting machine, and subsequently removes the container from the coffee mash outlet. A moving mechanism that moves from below to below the print head of the inkjet printer,
The inkjet printer uses the print head to print the reserved design on the surface of the latte bubble in the container based on the reservation data given from the reservation receiver, and the container is moved to the moving mechanism. The coffee beverage reservation system is characterized in that it moves to a position where a person can receive it. (A) Consists of store equipment installed in the store and mobile terminals used by customers,
(B) The store facility includes a clerk operation terminal, a server, and an inkjet printer for food printing,
(C) The portable terminal has a function of uploading image data of an image to be printed to the server using a predetermined application,
(D) The server has a function of storing the image data uploaded from the mobile terminal, giving a reception number to the mobile terminal, and notifying the mobile terminal of the reception number,
(E) The portable terminal has a function of displaying a receipt number notified from the server,
(F) The store clerk operation terminal has a function of reading the image data corresponding to the receipt number from the server and displaying the image when the receipt number is input,
(D) The clerk operation terminal has a function of sending the displayed image data to the ink jet printer when a print command is input under the condition that the displayed image is confirmed by the customer. is there,
An image print service system characterized by that. (A) Consists of store facilities installed in a plurality of stores and mobile terminals used by customers,
(B) The store equipment has the same configuration as the store equipment of any store, a clerk operation terminal connected to the Internet line, a WEB server provided on the Internet, and the clerk operation A food printing inkjet printer connected to a terminal or the WEB server,
(C) The portable terminal has a function of uploading image data of an image to be printed to the WEB server,
(D) The WEB server stores the image data uploaded from the mobile terminal, assigns a reception number to the mobile terminal, and sends the reception number to the mobile terminal that has uploaded the image data. Has a notification function,
(E) The portable terminal has a function of displaying the receipt number notified from the WEB server,
(F) When the receipt number is input, the clerk operation terminal reads the image data corresponding to the receipt number from the WEB server and has a function of displaying the image.
(D) The clerk operation terminal or the WEB server displays an image of the displayed image when a print command is input under a condition in which the image displayed on the clerk operation terminal is confirmed by a customer. It has a function of sending data to the inkjet printer,
An image print service system characterized by that.

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